First Take SA

Gauteng is working on implementing rotational and shift learning when learners return to school on July the 6th. Gauteng Education MEC, Panyaza Lesufi, made the announcement when the province's Command Council updated the media on COVID-19 developments. Lesufi says 246 learners and educators have tested positive for the Corona Virus in Gauteng schools.

Government and parliament have told the SABC that they do not support its planned staff retrenchments. Deputy Minister for Communications Pinky Kekana told members of the portfolio committee that the department is opposed to the plan. The Department denied that the SABC had consulted it on this plan. The public broadcaster before the committee to explain the decision top lay off staff.

The supplementary budget delivered by Finance Minister Tito Mboweni yesterday has painted a bleak picture of the South African economy, as the country battles the coronavirus pandemic. It shows a deterioration in government finances with marked increases in debt, weak revenue collection and more spending pressures. The local economy is now expected to contract by 7.2% this year.

Business groups and industry players have welcomed Finance Minister Tito Mboweni'S Supplementary Budget. The minister tabled a hard hitting budget yesterday warning of increased government debt and escalating unemployment. The minister said the country will likely borrow more money and miss its tax revenue collections target by over three-billion Rands. Furthermore the economy will contract by 7-point- 2 percent in 2020 - its largest contraction in nearly 90 years

AfriForum's private prosecution unit will assist the government of Botswana in a high-profile money-laundering and fraud case involving a well-known South African businesswoman. The Unit, under the leadership of Advocate Gerrie Nel, has officially been appointed by that government to represent it in a case in which businesswoman Bridgette Motsepe-Radebe is implicated. Afriforum believes this is a step in a right direction to strengthen Botswana's hand in sending a strong message to the continent on rooting out corruption.

More than 200 learners at Makaula Senior Secondary School in the Eastern Cape have tested positive for the coronavirus. The alleged non-compliance with the lockdown rules and regulations has been cited as one of the major causes of the massive infection at the school. Parents had to force their way inside the school as they were made to wait outside the premises

A 150-million rand large-scale clinical trial for a COVID19 vaccine begins in South Africa on today. This has been announced at a virtual media conference hosted by the University of the Witwatersrand. The trial titled "South African Ox1Cov-19 Vaccine VIDA-Trial" is sponsored by the University of Oxford and the Jenner Institute and funded by the South African Medical Research Council and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The vaccine is made from a weakened version of a common cold virus.

Transport Minister, Fikile Mbalula, says now is the time to restructure and formalise the taxi industry. Today, he will continue talks between government and the taxi industry regarding taxis carrying their full capacity of passengers, and the re-opening of long distance routes. YESTERDAY Mbalula visited Soshanguve where police had to fire teargas and rubber bullets to disperse crowds during the taxi shutdown

President Cyril Ramaphosa has made a passionate plea for men to respect and love women. He was speaking during an alliance virtual dialogue on gender based violence in Johannesburg last night. The dialogue took place under the theme - Men and Boys Fighting Gender Based Violence. It follows the recent wave of attacks and killing of women in the country. Other participants included ANC Women's League President Bathabile Dlamini and the SACP's First Deputy General Secretary, Solly Mapaila.

Former president Jacob Zuma and his co-accused -- French arms company -- Thales* -- are due back in court today for pre-trial proceedings. The case was initially set down for May, but it was postponed after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. A stayed warrant of arrest still hangs over Zuma's head after he failed to appear in court in February due to ill-health.